FRANCE 24 will launch its Arabic language channel on Monday 2nd April at 04:00pm (Paris Time). This channel will cover all international current affairs in a four-hour daily program from 04:00pm to 08:00pm.

This channel is destined for the Middle East and North Africa, where there are high expectations of a French international news channel.

Like the other two channels in French and English, the Arabic channel will encompass the main themes of FRANCE 24’s platform: news, economics, culture, sports, and weather. In addition to the 10-minute news updates broadcast live every half hour, the channel will air all the magazines and talk-shows that contribute to the identity of FRANCE 24, as well as some programs in Arabic specifically designed for this channel.

A team of 22 dedicated television and internet journalists representing 8 different nationalities has been put together and placed under the responsibility of Agnès Levallois, Deputy Managing Editor in charge of the channel’s Arabic content.

The language will be classical Arabic, which is the language used by major Arabic medias.

The three FRANCE 24 channels are available in free, non-encrypted and digital broadcasts from the major satellites covering the Middle East and North Africa (see distribution table annexed to this press release).

The channel will be launched in Paris next April 2nd live from the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute).

FRANCE 24’s Management Board members will travel to Algiers, Casablanca, Dubaï and Cairo to present the channel’s values and objectives to the Arabic speaking world.

Alain de Pouzilhac, Chief Executive Officer of FRANCE 24 declared « We are very pleased and very proud of the fact that after less than four months and six months ahead of schedule, FRANCE 24 is launching broadcasts in its third language, Arabic. Bolstered by results that are already excellent internationally in both television and the internet, we believe that the Arabic language will represent another key success factor for FRANCE 24 ».

About FRANCE 24 :

FRANCE 24 is the first French international news channel that offers a French perspective and sensibility on world events. Since December 6th, 2006, France 24 has been broadcasting on a 24/7 basis on two channels, in French and in English, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and on the east coast of the U.S. FRANCE 24 will launch a third channel in Arabic on April 2nd 2007. FRANCE 24 can be accessed by all media platforms: cable, satellite and DSL. The website www.france24.com